"No!"
Bai Shengyi refused without the slightest hesitation.
Just from the foul language she had just heard, she didn't want to possess such a fire.
The Samsara Brush seemed to have long anticipated Bai Shengyi's choice and quickly chimed in, "Then the brush suggests adding extra meals for Shifang and Longzhu."
Hmph! The brush also has its own emotions! You scold the brush, you scold the master, you bully Little Vine Leaf, I'll get you!
Bai Shengyi smiled, "Absolutely. If only they could develop sentience sooner."
"Then you'll have to wait at least ten thousand years," the Samsara Brush snorted proudly. "But with the brush around, who knows, maybe they'll open up one day."
After making the decision, the Samsara Brush no longer held back and forcefully suppressed the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire.
Thus, Bai Shengyi saw that in her dantian, the broken tip of the Samsara Brush precisely pressed above a cluster of withered red flames. Then, one luminous white and one ethereal blue, as if receiving a command, instantly lunged at the red fire, tearing and squeezing...
Upon closer inspection, a wisp of Nine Nether Desolate Fire could be seen emerging from the Samsara Brush's body.
This Desolate Fire was the fire the Samsara Brush had refined into the brush earlier. Although it disdained it for not being comparable to Longzhu's Starfire or Shifang's Netherfire, the Samsara Brush had never allowed the Shifang Netherfire to devour it.
Perhaps the Nine Nether Desolate Fire understood its own status and had long been filled with resentment, so when it attacked with its flames, it was even more ferocious than the other two.
Before long, the light of the red fire grew even dimmer.
The Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire finally panicked.
It never imagined that someone would reject a divine fire that had already developed sentience and instead choose to destroy a spiritual entity of heaven and earth like itself!
"Fairy! You beautiful fairy, I am willing to pledge allegiance to you! Do you know, I am not only a divine fire, but I am also knowledgeable and know many secret realms and treasures. I can also refine weapons, pills, and medicines. As long as you keep me, your ascension will be within reach!"
The Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire used all its strength to utter this long speech, and its flame light withered by a large portion.
It looked at Bai Shengyi expectantly. It felt that Bai Shengyi, being such a young girl, surely could not resist such temptation.
After all, its former former master and its former former former master had treated it as a rare treasure and worshipped it as soon as they heard of its many uses. It had been around for so many years, and it had only stumbled once with that girl Yun Youyue, being forcibly contracted.
However, it was destined to disappoint the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire.
Bai Shengyi's will was incredibly firm, and she did not fall for it at all. Instead, she said, "Little Samsara, Longzhu, Shifang, you're not trying hard enough. Why can it still speak?"
"You... are you a demonic cultivator? How can you be so wicked..."
Before the word "wicked" could be uttered, the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire could no longer make a sound, its breath fading.
A moment later, the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire extinguished with a "puff," and within Bai Shengyi's dantian, the fire spiritual power surged!
The two fires being "full and satisfied" caused her fire spiritual power to once again surpass her wood spiritual power!
Fortunately, Bai Shengyi was prepared. She guided the two spiritual powers through her meridians, gradually stabilizing them with her mental power.
Qingmeng Vine: "Master, congratulations! You've reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!"
The benefits from the divine fire were not as great as Bai Shengyi had anticipated. She had originally thought she could use this opportunity to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.
"You think too much. It's just a wisp of fire," the Samsara Brush poured a bucket of cold water on Bai Shengyi.
"It doesn't hurt to dream occasionally," Bai Shengyi ignored it and asked the awakened Qingmeng Vine, "Little Vine Leaf, you're finally awake. How do you feel? Are you still uncomfortable?"
The two vine leaves in the dantian moved as if covering their faces, "It's fine. I also took a little bit of the fire source just now. Next time I encounter this bad guy, Little Vine Leaf can protect Master like big brother."
Bai Shengyi was surprised, "You eat everything? Are you really okay?"
Qingmeng Vine acted cute and spoiled, subtly implying something about the Samsara Brush, indicating that it was truly fine, then obediently said, "Big brother, don't delay Master's cultivation consolidation. Shall we go take care of Er Gou together?"
If the Samsara Brush had eyes, it would surely have rolled them to the heavens. Who was it that was just badmouthing Er Gou not long ago? And now it's acting cute in front of the master?
Also, what did it mean by "delaying Bai Shengyi's cultivation consolidation"?
"Shut up! Go by yourself!" the Samsara Brush cursed angrily and retracted into the sea of consciousness.
Bai Shengyi frowned slightly and was about to reprimand Qingmeng Vine when Qingmeng Vine quickly left. She could only calm herself and continue cultivating.
Bai Shengyi discovered that not only were the vine leaves in her dantian greener and the firelight brighter, but even the black mist seemed to have secretly grown a little.
"No way, this fellow hasn't been stealing my spiritual power recently. Could it grow along with my strength?"
Bai Shengyi fell into thought.
...
At the summit of the Artifact Refining Peak, in the largest, most luxurious, and extravagant hall, Yun Youyue was originally meditating to heal her injuries. However, all of a sudden, she turned deathly pale and collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
"Ugh..."
Yun Youyue endured it for a long time but still spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Her contract with the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire was gone!
At this moment, she could only be grateful that she had chosen a transaction contract to make the Earth-Tilt Crimson Fire truly submit. Otherwise, she would likely have been even more severely injured.
Black bloodstains dripped onto the smooth, pristine white floor, shocking to behold. But all of this was not as chilling as Yun Youyue's complexion.
"Bai! Sheng! Yi!" Yun Youyue uttered each word, gritting her teeth.
Sustaining repeated losses at the hands of this woman was a humiliation Yun Youyue considered to be the greatest of her life.
She had always had things go her way, but ever since she was tricked by Qing Buluo in the secret realm, she felt that everything was going exceptionally wrong.
She had a premonition that if she didn't find a way to eliminate Bai Shengyi, some situations she wouldn't want to see might arise in the future.
Yun Youyue sat meditating with a gloomy expression for a long time but found that her injuries had not improved at all. She frowned, got up, and walked out.
Outside, Yun Kai had just woken up from his unconsciousness. After this ordeal, his vital energy was severely depleted, and he could only lie in bed.
"Father, you're awake?" Yun Youyue walked to Yun Kai's side and said, "I was just about to discuss this with you. The battle with Bai Shengyi has damaged my foundation, and it might hinder my Golden Core formation. I'd like to trouble Father to invite Alchemist Mo to examine me."
"Yue'er."
Yun Kai doted on Yun Youyue immensely, but seeing that Yun Youyue didn't inquire about his own condition at all, and was only concerned about herself, he couldn't help but feel a little disheartened.
However, upon hearing that Yun Youyue's Golden Core formation might have problems, he became worried and frowned, "How could Bai Shengyi be so excessive! It was just a small competition, how could she strike you so heavily!"
"Father, it's more than that. My Starfall Emperor Ring and divine fire were also stolen by Bai Shengyi..." Yun Youyue said, her eyes almost turning red with anger!
She truly hated it!
Seeing her usually proud and confident beloved daughter so wronged, Yun Kai felt immense heartache.
How could he think of anything else? He immediately said hatefully, "I knew that girl was no good! First your Aunt Yun Ying, then you, she's truly lawless! Yue'er, don't worry, Father will avenge you! I'll find a way to teach her a lesson!"
"No! I want to eliminate her. Father, I have a premonition that Bai Shengyi will be my greatest enemy."
"Alright, whatever you say. As for your injuries, Father will have someone invite Mo Shuxin over right away."
"Father, I knew it, you're the best!"
The father and daughter chatted for a while longer, when a small disciple of Yun Kai's ran in and said, "Esteemed Venerable, Elder Ling and the Peak Master heard you've woken up and are coming over now."
"What are they coming for?" Yun Kai had lost face today and didn't want to see outsiders.
The little disciple: "Elder Ling said he wants to investigate the matter of the Earth-grade high-rank spiritual artifact."
Yun Kai and Yun Youyue's expressions changed instantly.
"Father! What should we do? Are they going to confiscate the spiritual artifact?" Yun Youyue bit her lip. "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have used the Phoenix Cloud Sword."
The Phoenix Cloud Sword was that Earth-grade high-rank spiritual artifact.
Yun Kai also felt a little agitated, "That won't happen. The Phoenix Cloud Sword is already your Natal Spiritual Artifact, the academy can't take it back. At worst, we'll find a way to buy it."
Before Yun Kai could devise a plan, Peak Master Ying and Ling Yue had already arrived. Seeing this, Yun Youyue turned and went into the inner room.